Pakistan 's internal strife embodies what Shakespeare meant when he had Dick say to the rebel, Jack Cade: "The first thing we do, let's kill all the lawyers."
In Henry VI, Part 2, lawyers were an impediment to the plot to kill the King. In Pakistan , General Pervez Musharraf views the country's advocates with comparable disdain. (And, appears to have taken the Bard, literally.)
According to news reports , to date, some 3000 people -- 25% percent of that country's lawyers -- have been arrested.
Lawyers and judges are the voice and hope for democracy in Pakistan , an unstable nuclear power now in a "state of emergency."
Along those lines, a reader sent in the following request by way of e-mail:
In honor of election day, I think it would be appropriate to do a post honoring the lawyers in Pakistan who are leading the fight against the imposition of marshal law and getting their heads cracked open for doing so.
People can support their struggle for the rule of law by making a donation to the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan at: HRC of Pakistan
Done!
UPDATE:
On November 8, 2007, we received the following e-mail from Barry Kamins (President of the New York City Bar Association):
As an expression of solidarity with our beleaguered colleagues at the Pakistani bar, the New York City Bar Association, the New York State Bar Association, and the New York County Lawyers Association, in conjunction with other organizations, invite you to attend a public rally in front of the New York County Courthouse, 60 Centre Street on Tuesday, November 13, from 1:00-1:30 p.m.
The crude and brutal suspension of law and the legal system in Pakistan, and the repression of judges and lawyers there, require that we take a moment from our own busy schedules and demonstrate our concern.
Because the images from Pakistan show the violent repression of Pakistani lawyers wearing their customary dark suit and white shirt, we request that you appear on Tuesday in similar attire, though this is not required. What is important is a strong show of support.
We hope to see you there.